Waiver issued for drivers of utility crews restoring power

An electrical worker for INTREN, a electric company from Chicago that drove two days to get to Philadelphia to help PECO restore power, walks by a damaged vehicle on in Bryn Mawr, Pa., on Sunday, March 4 2018, that was crushed by a falling tree on Friday. The driver was able to climb out the window and received several stitches for his injuries. (Michael Bryant/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)(Photo: Michael Bryant / AP)

PHILADELPHIA – Gov. Tom Wolf says he’s authorizing drivers taking utility crews to try to restore power to Pennsylvania homes and businesses to work longer hours than is normally allowed.

The governor said Sunday that the waiver, which runs through the end of the month, allows drivers helping transport crews to areas hard-hit by the storm to work 14 hours rather than being limited to 11 hours.

As of 1 p.m. Sunday, the governor said 236,000 utility customers remain without power in the commonwealth, down from a high of 587,000 at the height of Friday’s storm.

Private companies are bringing in out-of-state workers to help. PECO says repair crews have come from as far away as Florida, Mississippi and Illinois. PPL said it was recalling about 25 linemen working in Puerto Rico.